Chapter 6 and 7

Just because a policy or idea does not actively mention gender, we tend to think of it as gender-neutral. However, because men and women serve different social roles, especially within developing countries, where social roles based on gender are more rigid than Northern countries, the implementation of economic reforms will undoubtedly affect men and women differently. This has been true in the case of property titling reforms.

In their chapter entitled Unequal Rights: Women and Property Diana Lee-Smith, Catalina Hinchey and Trujillo look at the affects on property titling programs on women in general. The authors argue that "current inequalities have arisen in a multiplicity of ways in different societies, based on how wealth is generated and how systems of governance and institutions have evolved (160)." Rather than seeing the main cause of present wealth gender inequalities as a consequence of recent changes in the global system (e.g. globalization), Lee-Smith and Trujillo see them as part of wider, older social causes. Despite making this distinction, the authors specifically look at the affect of land reform on women. Although the legal frameworks associated with land reforms often ensure equal rights for men and women in terms of property rights, these laws generally

In her chapter Gender Equity and Rural Land Reforms in China Gale Summerfield specifically looks at the effect of a private property initiative undertaken by the Chinese state in 1983. Summerfield shows the multi-dimensional nature of these reforms, focusing on their impact on women's roles within agricultural households and their affect on traditional clan connections. In many of the chapters I have read, the concentration of women within one sector (feminization of agriculture) and reforms that aim at improving women's roles within the domestic sphere are presented in a negative light (as ways of resisting gender equity) however, I do not necessarily see the harm in inproving the quality of women's lives in roles that they already have then seeking to change these roles. In many Souther countries, unemployment is very high, so I think it is a bit short-sighted to advocate women's access to the market and capital given the fact that many men cannot find employment as well.

Summerfield's account of the effects of properting in rural China is interesting because it does not seem to be advocating one perspective alone. Rather than arguing that properting decrease traditional social ties, Summerfield she looks at the multiple affects of properting on rural society. Regarding the "feminization of agriculture" Summerfield argues that this occurs at the expense of women's agency. However, the term agency is so difficult to define. I do agree that women are being limited to the agriultural sector but I do not necessarily think that this is a bad thing for the short-term. Traditionally, women have been limited t certain professions, like nursing, teaching, ect. However, after awhile there was change. So maybe the agricultural sector might be a good place for women to begin seeking further advances within the economy.